Page 75 - Psychoceramics and the Test of Fire

Ark Two

pronoun, “is that most plants and animals survive—and thrive, when
possible—on a thin superficial layer of planetary crust. Life forms
found elsewhere today—deep in the oceans, at high altitudes, in
extremes of temperature, atmosphere or chemistry—will either
continue their existence in those niches during the centuries of
ecological collapse because they will be unaffected by changes fatal to
what we might term the core bioset, or they will die off with little or
no structural loss to the latter. Therefore, as members of that core
bioset, we will need to preserve its means of survival until the normal
environment returns to a habitable condition. Hence the concept of
an ark.”
He unrolled a sketch of a strange ungainly shape shown hovering
high above a blasted windswept landscape. “The ark of tradition was
a sea-going vessel, appropriate to a global ocean. We cannot count
on the seas being clement enough to support that sort of lifeboat.
For the same reason no region on Earth can be presumed to
maintain the conditions of life on the ground. We will be confronted
with storms of unimaginable magnitude. Volcanic eruptions may
poison the atmosphere, pollutants the soil and water. Radiation may
escape from reactors and nuclear weapons could be detonated. These
are the constraints driving me to one conclusion: we will be safe in
the middle atmosphere, counting on only two natural phenomena:
uninterrupted solar energy and gravity itself. Here you see an artist’s
conception of an airborne ark. One such unit cannot and should not
be expected to contain the maximal range of the core bioset. It will
take thousands, some relatively specialized. But all will follow a basic
design.”
Vosky next scrolled out a blueprint with multiple cutaway views of
his vessel.
“These are vacuum airships, Robin, engineered for stability and
very long-term sustainability off the ground. That means we will not
be dependent on helium or hydrogen for lift: the buoyancy of easily-
maintained vacuum containers will keep the ark afloat. Here you see a
canopy of solar panels generating all the power the ark will need,
while providing adjustable shade from anticipated extremes of our
sun’s fluctuating output.”

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